English Premier League Report: Brighton v Manchester City 12 August 2017

Watford defender Miguel Britos has scrambled in a stoppage-time equaliser to grab a 3-3 draw against Liverpool in an absorbing Premier League encounter.

As one of the most successful footballmanagers in the new millennium, Guardiola will have been disappointed that he didn't pick up a piece of silverware for the first time in his managerial career in his first season in England.

"My experience of being a manager, always the beginning of the season the new ones are the toughest ones", Guardiola added.

Asked whether being favourites bothered him, Guardiola said: "No".

"There won't be too many betting shops throughout the country that would put us outside the bottom three. We controlled the game".

City were controlling the match as the likes of David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne saw lots of the ball. while Brighton were looking to catch their visitors on counter-attacks.

And soon afterwards Dunk turned Fernandinho's cross through goalkeeper Mathew Ryan's grasp and into his own net.

Brighton have been made one of the favourites with bookies for an immediate return to the Championship and Hughton admits that is something which he'll use to motivate his team: "What you have to do is use every opportunity you can to motivate the players".

But during a press conference on Friday ahead of their season's opener, Guardiola said: "Last season we were favourites too and we finished 15 points behind".

"For 70 minutes we kept them to minimal good chances".

"They have strong central defenders and they are so well organised, but there are many teams like this".

Things went from bad to worse for Hughton's side after 23 minutes, when young, promising, Chelsea loanee (imagine that) Izzy Brown had to be withdrawn through injury, to be replaced by Jamie Murphy.

"There are going to be tough days, particularly away from home, but go into the season with confidence, no fear and be very much ready for the challenges ahead. This club has a very hard history in recent years", Hughton added. "Our aim is to make sure we are in the Premier League come the following season".

Meanwhile, Eliaquim Mangala being sat alongside Bravo conjured memories of another of City's many forgotten men.

He will not be intimidated by the Premier League big guns and has already broken the club's transfer record three times in the close-season in a £35 million spree on Laurent Depoitre, Aaron Mooy and Steve Mounie.